My Volunteer Trip

My name is Claudia Bilato and here is my story... On May 5 2015 I lost two of my closest friends Olivia Smosarski and Jordyn Hastings in a tragic car accident that happened on the RedHill Valley Parkway. These two girls filled my life and many others with happiness, love and joy. It feels as though my heart has been broken from not having the chance to say goodbye. I continue to struggle with the reality that the accident has happened and that I won't see Liv and Jordy again. I dedicate each day of my life to the two of them for their life  was taken far too soon. Olivia and Jordyn are two very big animal lovers. Olivia has a cat named Milly and Jordyn has many dogs that her family continue to take into their home. Olivia had mentioned to me and a few others about a trip she always wanted to take to South Africa. She had recently been accepted to go to participate in a Monkey Rehabilitation Program in August. Unfortunately the accident had stopped that from happening and ever since it has been my dream and inspiration to fulfil her dream of going to Africa. I have been accepted by the International Student Volunteer (ISV) Program to go to South Africa this summer for two weeks and volunteer with others to teach children how to read and write english and to help their community in every way we can. The cost of the trip is expensive ($5,000) and being in school it is hard to pay for it myself. I am looking for donations to help send me to Africa so that I can come to peace with the tragedy that has occured in my life. I know the pain will never go away completely but I choose to live my life in dedication to them and this is my first step. The beginning of May is the deadline for the funds to be paid for my trip and I am forever greatful for any dollar that is donated <3 Thanks for reading my story<3